Rival Honduran gangs reach "nationwide truce"

TEGUCIGALPA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The two largest Honduran gangs reached a "nationwide truce" Tuesday to stop homicides and violence in the country.

The truce was brokered by San Pedro Sula's bishop Romulo Emiliani, with the support of Secretary for Multidimensional Security at the Organization of American States (OAS) Adam Blackwell and Honduran President Porfirio Lobo.

"The truce is before the God, the society and the authorities, and it includes all the national territory," said members of the gangs -- "Mara Salvatrucha" and "Calle 18" when they met in a prison of the second largest city of Honduras, San Pedro Sula.

The gangs agreed on "zero crimes and zero street violence nationwide" but also demanded job opportunities and their opinions be heard by the governments.

Honduran authorities say gangsters are responsible for most of the crimes committed in the country.

According to the United Nations, Honduras has one of the world's highest murder rates in the world, with 87 killings per 100,000.

Last year, El Salvador's two largest gangs, which have the same names as their Honduran counterparts but with independent leadership structures, signed a similar truce.

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